High quality and performance
Bottom brackets do not get a lot of attention from owners or the press. With the exception of a few colorfully anodized models, they are not sexy, and they may be the last part to be replaced when someone wants to increase the performance of their bike. If you are like me and you enjoy building your bikes instead of buying them off the showroom floor, they are a great place to skimp and try to save money. The models offered by the two big S brands are certainly cost effective, and they will let your cranks spin seemingly forever in the stand before you attach a chain.
On the other hand, they are not very well sealed, so if you don't like servicing bottom brackets and hate dealing with loose ball bearings as much as I do, you might want to consider paying more for something that will last longer. Cane Creek's Hellbender 70 has high quality sealed cartridge bearings and nicely machined external washers that fit into the cups and provide additional sealing. Compared to a stock bottom bracket, it has longer maintenance intervals and a longer service life.
It includes telescoping aluminum tubes between the cups to provide even more sealing. They are also nicely machined, and are like jewelry compared to the plastic tubes that most bottom brackets ship with. On the other hand, it's hard to appreciate something you can't see or interact with, and at least those plastic tubes usually include rubber o-rings to make them at least seem water tight. If you get any water in your frame, is this a feature that matters? I have a bottom bracket on another bike that has been fully submerged in three creek crossings, and I still don't know the answer. I would make my purchase based on bearing quality alone.
When shopping for bottom brackets and comparing cost, performance, features, and quality, I think this model is at that fulcrum point where returns suddenly diminish drastically with any increase in price. There are only a few competitors at this price point, and I can't say I have extensive experience with all of them in order to say one is definitely better than another in any regard. I installed my BSA Cane Creek with lots of grease, and it has not creaked a single time. That's probably enough validation for now.
Jamie D.
